February 11th 2014 6:00 am PT

Today, we’re announcing a pair of new audio device options for Xbox One.

First up, the all-new Xbox One Stereo Headset. The Stereo Headset pairs a premium, full-range (20Hz – 20kHz) audio experience with a unidirectional microphone taking advantage of Xbox One’s Skype-powered chat audio codec. Included in the package is a detachable Stereo Headset Adapter that puts all of the audio controls right at your fingertips. You can balance the game and chat audio levels, control the master volume, and mute the microphone.

The Xbox One Stereo Headset does not use separate batteries and is passively powered through the Wireless Controller. Additionally, headset is compatible with mobile devices, tablets and PC/Mac.

For Xbox fans that already have a favorite set of stereo gaming headphones, we’re happy to reveal that the Stereo Headset Adapter will also ship separately. Plug your compatible headset into the Xbox One Stereo Headset Adapter to chat with your fellow players, and enjoy the convenient volume controls right on the adapter. For more details on the Xbox One Stereo Headset Adapter, please visit xbox.com/xboxone/compatibleheadsets.

Secondly, Microsoft has jacked everyone on this adapter. No bluetooth support?

Good thing the Chinese will have the same thing, with bluetooth on Amazon and ebay for. $8 in about 3 months. The X1’s WiFi chipset supports bluetooth and NFC. You already have the drivers in Win8, not hard.

Wondering if the adapter will work with tritton warheads being wireless hmm?

Zach

Never mind I followed the link and found it >< primers and warheads are not compatible sob!

thekeelo_g

“Any 3.5mm stereo headset (that uses the CTIA plug standard) can get stereo game audio by plugging into the adapter.”

That’s a fairly important distinction. So this adapter brings the X1 controller in line with the DS4?

Matt

I really hope so. I’d love to be able to plug my Sennheiser PC360s into this adapter and get both game and chat audio like on the PS4.

thekeelo_g

I have two sets of Skullcandy SLYRs, and I’d love to be able to ditch the mixer to just plug them into the controller. It’s certainly worth $25 to try it.

Jon Taylor

Yeah nothing will work, the 360 compatible headsets all use 2.5mm……?

thekeelo_g

There are adapters. And the point I was making is that you can plug (almost) any headset into the controller and have in-game chat and audio.

Michael Burden

If you actually bothered to read what was included in the box, you would have seen that the 2.5mm to 3.5mm adapter is included with the package.

thekeelo_g

Yes. You may need a 2.5mm to 3.5mm adapter, but otherwise, you’re good to go.

Toxxity

I was under the impression that this “adapter” was going to allow me to utilize my Xbox 360 Wireless headset with the Xbox One console. Is there still another adapter coming that will allow this, or do I just need to wait until they develop a wireless headset specifically for the Xbox One?

thekeelo_g

You should be able to use any wireless headset on the market that worked for the 360 on the Xbox One for in-game audio. This adapter allows those headsets to also use in-game chat. It allows you to plug the cable you used to have to plug into the bottom of your 360 controller into the bottom of your Xbox One controller. The sole exception that comes to mind is the Warhead headset, which had wireless in-game chat.

Michael Burden

If you have the Bluetooth model, there is a chance support may be patched in at a later date. If you have one of the earlier ones, I wouldn’t count on it as I believe it uses a different protocol to connect to the 360 than what the One uses.

Toxxity

Unfortunately, I have the older model. If they decide to patch it and make the newer Bluetooth version work, I wouldn’t mind grabbing one of those to solve my dilemma.

Zach

I’m thinking of getting the Polk audio 4 shots instead plus they are wireless has anyone else used the old style polks on the 360?

thekeelo_g

There is a wire to the controller with the 4shots.

But yeah, I’m planning to get them as well, but this adapter should bridge the gap until I can afford the 4s.

Zer0s_X

So, is the 4shot adapter different than this chat adapter then? Because this adapter obviously only does game chat, not game audio.

thekeelo_g

I thought so too, but, per the update:
“Any 3.5mm stereo headset (that uses the CTIA plug standard) can get stereo game audio by plugging into the adapter.”

It doesn’t look like the mic will spin to be on the right hand side of the face?

http://twitter.com/rogXue rogXue

I’m going to be a very odd person and post this comment. I want an adapter that can mute my kinect sound on the fly when I choose. I have an in wall theater setup that is far nicer than using a bulky headset (that said I own a40’s also) I wouldn’t mind using my kinect for chat but I do not want it unmuted all the time. I want it to be active when I choose it to be. I’m pretty sure I’m probably in the .005% on this thought though.

Tjalsma

That’s actually a very good idea.

Shane Bryan

could be solved with a new Kinect voice command? “Xbox Mute Kinect”. It could passively still listen to voice commands, but not chat? A bit of software trickery is all that’s needed, surely?

thekeelo_g

That’s brilliant. I’d love them to throw in a “Xbox mute all” so when I’m playing online, I don’t have to manually mute everyone whose Kinects are picking up their dogs barking and drowning out everything else.

fastharryDOTcom

meanwhile sony is wireless and 7.1 for a few bucks more….

Samuel Herrera

No headphone is true 7.1 surround sound quality as that would require 7 different speakers surrounding your body. 5.1 and 7.1 is just a marketing gimmick designed to entice idiots like you into paying more for little more than a louder bass LOL.

Sanpei

We know that…The fact is that wireless headset is a mile ahead from this, and a few bucks more..You got the point ?

Rick Kingslan

“… entice idiots like you ”
I don’t get it… Why even SAY that? “Teh Intertubes” == saying things that you would never say to someone’s face… Point was well made without the personal dig.

matt neace

Does using the adapter with X360 Turtle Beach sets still retain Skype Chat Audio Codecs, or will we lose them by using the adapter? If I don’t get the best chat quality by using the adapter, I will buy a set of XOSevens.

Basically, do I lose chat audio quality by using the adapter vs buying an actual Xbox One brand set of Turtle Beach XOSevens? I need to know this.

thekeelo_g

This is largely conjecture, but I think so. The XO7s still connect to the adapter for chat audio. I don’t think there’s an option BUT the Skype codecs.

Barry Csonka

$25 for an adapter? You mean a surcharge of $25 to use a headset that isn’t complete garbage?

I swear everyone that works at MS thinks of their customers as total buffoons. There is no reason to put this proprietary bs there in the first place, other than to gouge people that don’t know any better.

Chinese knockoffs of these things will be on Amazon 2 weeks later for $5..I’ll be waiting for that instead.

Rick Kingslan

Check eBay…. they already exist. Of course, non-Xbox approved hardware has been a cause of ‘issues’ in the past. :o)

Mike

the new adapter using a new port is cause they reduced the number of cables needed to use a headset. Now Game Audio and Chat both come from the one cable that connect to the adapter on the controller. This means no need for a USB cable to power the headset or RCA (Red and White) cables going to the TV. Now if you have people who are annoyed by late night gaming you can turn off the volume on the TV and game with full game and chat audio and it’s all from the new Adapter. There is a draw back, all headsets will be powered by the controller itself. This means that if you’re running off AA batteries or the Play and Charge Kit you may need to Replace (AA’s) or recharge (Play and charge Kit) often.

evilfangs .

“I’ve seen a lot of questions about what will / won’t work. Here is an easy way to think about it:

Legacy gaming headsets get game audio from the back of the console
from the S/PDIF port. Get chat audio by connecting the 2.5mm chat cable
to the adapter,
New Xbox One headsets – get chat and stereo directly from the adapter. No need to connect anything to the console.
Any 3.5mm stereo headset (that uses the CTIA plug standard) can get stereo game audio by plugging into the adapter”.

I have no idea if my 360 Turtle Beach x31 headset will work. Any help? Lol I don’t know all the in’s and out’s for my headset. It plays sound and allows me to speak, that’s all I care for.

thekeelo_g

It will work. You’ll need to buy the adapter, then hook everything up like you did for the 360. The adapter even comes with a 2.5-3.5mm adapter so you’ll have everything you need.

evilfangs .

Cool thank you, shame there is only one USB in the Xbox one. I’ll have to find another USB slot to charge my batteries up while I use the USB for my headset.

Jayadub

There are 3 USB ports on the Xbox One. One on the side and two in back, all of which are USB 3.0.

evilfangs .

Lol so they’re, I never saw them before.

MainerMan

What about the wireless box that has the A/V red and white jacks?? How are you supposed to get game audio with the One being connected via an HDMI cable??

thekeelo_g

Most high end headsets use digital audio to connect to consoles, including, unless I’m mistaken, the x31.

If not, most TVs have RCA audio out ports. That’s how my Skullcandy SLYRs are hooked up right now.

Once the adapter comes out, I’ll be able to either plug the 360 chat cable from the mixer that came with my headset into the adapter to get chat audio or plug the headset itself into the chat adapter, cutting the mixer out of the equation.

With the adapter, I could also plug the headset that I use for my phone into my controller and get game and chat audio.

thekeelo_g

Yes. That’s what makes it a headset vs headphones.

If I understand what CTIA means, basically any headset you could use with a cell phone will work with the adapter for game and chat audio.

thekeelo_g

That’s completely fair. My point, though, was that the adapter doesn’t effect the functionality of existing headsets, it just adds in the chat functionality.

But yeah, I was wrong about the surround sound part.

Paniccky z

will be the tritton AX PRO 5.1 compatible?

thekeelo_g

It should. You won’t get 5.1 (yet) but it’ll work for stereo in-game and chat audio as long as you use the digital audio cable.

Paniccky z

Hope they patch dolby digital soon

AgntLgn

Thank you MS! I really like this and am very excited to use this myself. I would also like to hear that MS is working on a wireless, Bluetooth version that would allow us to have even more headset options. Keep up the great work!

Mike

Here is all the info is SIMPLE terms.
New Headsets REDUCE the number of Cables needed to get Game and Chat Audio from the system.
Number of Cables needed (Xbox 360)
1- USB to Power the headset
1- RCA Cable (Red and White) that go from the system to the TV
1- 2.5mm Chat Cable from In-Line cable to controller
(Optional: HDMI adapter)
Number of Cables Needed (Xbox One Headsets)
1- Cable from Headset to controller.
You will need to BUY items to get game AUDIO from your Xbox 360 Headsets to work on Xbox One.
Items Needed:
S/PDIF Cable.
Digital to Analog Converter (Current price at Radio Shack $32.99)
Xbox One Adapter (to use the MIC) ($24.99

Brian

Drawback of using an X1 headset: No simulated 5.1 surround sound (it’s only called “Stereo”). Audio quality untested.

Raymond

WHEN WILL THE PROMISED PATCH FOR SUPPORTING DOLBY DIGITAL THROUGH OPTICAL/SPDIF BE AVAILABLE????????

MrRadiolips

NOBODY KNOWS AAAHHHH!!!!

Steve

I made my own adapter, a week after launch. Cost me an old 360 headset and the one that came with the system… Cost $0

MrRadiolips

Did you use the power of your mind or electrical tape…lol.

Disco Stu

I think the big problem is that Xbox is getting ahead of themselves, I think they are really targeting for next-gen and “the future of home entertainment” with the xbox one however they are looking too far ahead and not focusing on whats in front of them. The have plans for Dolby Surround sound but have not executed yet, so they give us the stereo headset rather than coming up empty handed. It’s hard to take what I’m thinking and put it into words so hopefully you understand what I mean.

Tank Buster

Not interested in those! Already have Tritton Warheads colllecting dust waiting for a patch…

griever400

I have 2 mics and 2 controllers. The mics dont work in any of them. Anyone have info telling me why this isnt working or something I can do to make the mics work. Then i will think about getting a new mic. Gotta get the 1st 2 to work 1st. Does anyone have a link that shows/tells me whats wrong?

griever400

You complain alot. Sell the xbox1 and keep the crapstation. No one wants you playing with the best gamers. <—-I have everything and a boss PC, better gamers only exist here on the xbox boy.

Newton Jay Thomas

Will the Xbox One Headset also work with the Xbox 360?

Jessika S.

Those headphones are clearly over priced for what they are. I’ll just wait till I can get a Dolby Digital surround sound Xbox One headset so I’ll pass on this. You can pretty much get the adapter and any headphones with a 3.5mm headphone jack can become your gaming headset.